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While Assam celebrates Holi more or less the way northern India does, the festival of colours takes a unique form in one part of the state: Barpeta.

In most places in the country Toms Outlet , the festival is associated with the story of a devout Prahalad and his arrogant father Hiranyakashyap who schemed to kill his own son with the help of his wicked sister Holika. Holika was burnt to ashes while trying to immolate Prahalad and Holi became a symbol of victory of faith and devotion over arrogance and evil.

It unfolds as a three to five day event which starts with fireworks. In Assam’s Sattriya tradition, Holi is a festival of heaven. In Barpeta, Holi is a celestial celebration played in their own small earthly heaven.

Srimanta Sankardev was a 15th century saint scholar, poet, playwright and social reformer who steered Assamese culture towards a Neo Vashnavite movement. Present day Assam’s artistic, cultural and literary traditions bear the unmistakable stamp of his influence.

Sankardev’s Bhakti movement led to large regular congregations of devotees, evolving the institution of Sattras, a kind of monastery. These are today the hub of all Vaishnavit Toms Outlet e religious and cultural activities.

Barpeta Sattra is one of the important institutions of this tradition. It came up in the 15th century. Its founder is credited with having started the present form of Dolmahotsav in Barpeta Sattra.

It seems that Srimanta Sank Toms Outlet ardev, who travelled to far corners of India before returning to Assam to propagate his Bhakti movement, brought back the concept of Holi with him and it became a part of Assamese culture.

On the first day of celebration known as Meshadaha, the beard of a he goat is burnt in a fire lit in front of the Sattra. This is considered a symbolic ritual to mark the killing Toms Outlet of the demon Mahisasur.

Festivities in the following days revolve around the story of Krishna and his two wives, Lakshmi and Ghunucha. As the legend goes, Krishna, known here as Kalia Thakur, was already married to Lakshmi when he also promised to marry Ghunucha, the daughter of Indradinna.

His secret visit to Ghunucha was discovered by Lakshmi who in her anger wrecked the kingdom of Indradinna and reprimanded Krishna when he returned home after his dalliance with Ghunucha. Krishna sought forgiveness.

During the festival at Barpeta, as a symbolic visit of Krishna to Ghunucha, the idols of Mahaprabhu Dol Govinda and Kalia Thakur are taken out in decorated palanquins. People sing and dance to the tune of cymbals and drums. They throw Faku, a pink powder, in the air. Everyone is smeared in colours and joy.

The celebrations continue through the days and nights with singing of devotional songs and dance. On the final day, when Krishna returns to Lakshmi, the celebrations are at its peak. From early morning, people converge at the Sattra complex dancing and singing.

By evening, the massive temple complex is filled to capacity with devotees and onlookers. In spite of the huge gathering, there is no rowdiness.

When the palanquins carrying Dol Govinda and Kalia Thakur reach the gates of Sattra, the devotees form two groups, one each representing the brigades of Lakshmi and Krishna. The people of Lakshmi bar the entry of Krishna with two thick bamboos; Kalia Thakur’s followers try to force their way.

In what follows, crowds look like a sea of humanity swaying to and fro. Finally the bamboos give way, making great crackling sounds; there is a deafening applause from the crowd. The procession then proceeds to take seven rounds of the temple, with people aesthetically dancing and rejoicing behind.

Guwahati: Demanding that Narendra Modi and the BJP should make public their source of funds, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that the state Congress had paid Rs 30 lakh each to its 13 Lok Sabha candidates.

The funds were collected from businessmen, but no undue benefit was given to industrialists, Gogoi told a press conference here.

“Everyon Toms Outlet e collects money from business houses. Companies give money to us as well. The problem lies there when someone gives huge amount of money and then in return expects some benefit,” he said.

“Big corporate houses are giving huge money to BJP and that is why they are given enormous benefit in Gujarat. Adanis and others are offered land even at a lease of Re 1. BJP and Modi should m Toms Outlet ake public their source of funds,” he said.

“I am observing elections since 1962 and have been contesting since 1971, but never saw such huge inf Toms Outlet low of mon Toms Outlet ey from corporates. This election is also seeing polarisation on the basis of religion. It is a dangerous trend for Indian democracy, based on secularism and socialism,” Gogoi said.

Asked specifically where the Congress was securing funds for candidates in the state, Gogoi said “Like others, we are collecting funds from different companies in Assam and Kolkata. We are not going to other parts of the country.”

Necati Sasmaz IS Polat Alemdar, the badass leader of a badass Turkish Special Forces team. When American forces in Iraq arrest 11 Turkish soldiers (their own allies) and march them past the news cameras with bags over their heads, it’s up to Alemdar and his team to restore their country’s pride. When that doesn’t work out so well, the increasingly angry Turks set their sights on the one man responsible for the entire Iraq War: Sam Marshall, some random goofball who holds no apparent rank or position and yet still controls the entire American army. Who the fuck is this guy?

That’ pretty much it. These guys are definitely not Yankees fans. Sinc Toms Outlet e when is Turkey pissed off at us? And, don’t try to tell us that it was that thing with the 11 guys with the bags Toms Outlet over their heads (yeah, that actually happened) ’cause this obviously goes a little deeper than that. Jewish doctors stealing organs from Abu Ghraib detainees and mailing that shit out to Tel Aviv? Where the fuck did that come from?

On the bright side, these guys are just as strongly opposed to suicide bombings and video beheadings as they are against America. On the dark side, though, they actually blame America for engineering those suicide bombings and video beheadings. Shit.

“Let me tell you what the difference between you and me is. You would not sacrifice 11 men. Meanwhile, you watch your country’s fortune go to ruin. I would sacrifice 11,000 of my men if needed. You cannot abandon the 30 kids because of your feelings? I would kill every single one of them because of their feelings. I kill all who would ruin the peace. Unlike you, I am not here by coincidence. I am a peacekeeper assigned by God. A peacekeeper is God’s child.” Sam William Marshal Toms Outlet l (Billy Zane)

The Kurds are dimwitted thugs in league with the Americans.

We’re sure that this has nothing to do with the campaign of ethnic cleansing that Turkey is running against the Kurds in their own country, though. It’s probably just some wacky coincidence.

Yeah, but Do They Still Blow Some Shit Up?

We hate to say this, but yeah. They do a pretty damn good job of blowing shit up. And, we feel especi Toms Outlet ally weird saying that the suicide bombing scene is particularly awesome. The big machine gun shoot outs kick ass, too. Let’s face it, this is a fucking jihad of awesome.